Passiflora Caerulea

[Moopmoop]

Evening...

I bought a very small Passiflora Caerulea plant about 7 months ago, I kept it on the kitchen windowsill and it has romped away. It is now approx. 6.5ft and I can no longer have it on the windowsill as it is too tall, I don't have any French doors or anywhere else that it can be on the floor but also in front of a window too. I'm at a loss as what to do with it, it doesn't look anywhere near strong enough to survive outside, the main stem is about as thick as spaghetti!!! I'm guessing that if it's not in front of a window it will die??

[veggiechicken]

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=1386
I've grown them outdoors - have a white one in the garden at the moment.
Should be OK somewhere sheltered.

[Moopmoop]

Thanks VC, I don't really have anywhere sheltered, do you think I should put it out before I go to work tomoro and back in later on for a few days to harden it off? I don't want to kill it by putting it out but it can't live in the house much longer. Do you eat your fruits off the plant VC?

[WendyC]

They grew like weeds in the garden when I moved here, I know I'm further south than you but I think they are tougher than they look. Have to say there aren't any now as I ruthlessly weeded them all out as I really don't like them!

[veggiechicken]

Can you train yours around some sort of frame, to stop it being so tall?
I grew my blue one from seed, years ago, don't have it now. Its flowered but never fruited.
The white one was in the bargain bin at one of the DIY stores last year - its yet to flower.

[Moopmoop]

I'll have to go out and have a look tomorrow. Off the top of my head I can't think of anything to train it around other than the fence at the bottom of my garden, or the washing line pole?

[Gillykat]

I remember one house having a HUGE one growing on the front of it at Park View, Whitley Bay in the late 90's when I lived in that area. Not sure if it ever fruited but it certainly had a good display of flowers every summer
My mother-in-law also had one growing against a wall just outside her patio doors at Billy Mill, North Shields, at that plant certainly survived winters ok.

I'm growing two in my polytunnel this year as I adore the whole Passiflora family and now that I have the space I'm going to enjoy their beauty close up! I had one a few years ago which grew on wires strung across my kitchen window (indoors) and it produced a few flowers but no fruit. I would have probably still had it if my cat hadn't pulled it down!

Keep an eye on the forecast and perhaps begin to harden it off by, as you suggest, putting it outdoors during the day and bringing it back inside at night. It won't be that long before the threat of frost has gone and it can stay out all the time

[Moopmoop]

I guess it's worth a go cos it'll only die in the house with no light getting to it. That's good to know it can survive around my area, it is really windy this week so I think I should probs delay if I can.

[Kristen]

I've got one in a pot in the conservatory. I cut it right down each spring and it grows up again quickly enough. It has an obsolete type frame (in the pot) to climb up, if it is going bonkers towards the end of the season I poke the stems back in / through / down! the frame.

[SkyChild]

I've got two outside now in Scotland and they are fine

[Thelma Sanders]

I've tried to grow a couple from seed, but the flowers have been disappointing, with no nice clear blue 'bits' (a technical term, you understand )

Is there a variety that is more blue than the norm?

[Kristen]

Is there a variety that is more blue than the norm?

Fill your boots :

De Passiflora tuin - De passifloratuin

I've only not bought from him because every time I look at his site I want to buy far more than I can afford, or would fit in my conservatory!!

[Thelma Sanders]

Thanks K - lots of beauties there, some nice blue hardy ones as well - guess I'll be raiding the piggy bank again.

Now where was that thread about the last thing on the list to buy this year lol

[Kristen]

I asked him if he was able to take cuttings of several plants (some of which were showing as "out of stock" at the time) and hold them all for a single shipment / payment. He was very helpful in his reply, and could indeed do that. Worth asking him if you have any questions

[Moopmoop]

It has an obsolete type frame (in the pot) to climb up

Are you meaning an obelisk frame? If so that's a spiffing good idea, I shall scour everyone's favourite marketplace right now.